Interview with Elm Books author Gay Toltl Kinman

Today we welcome author Gay Toltl Kinman, the author of two (so far) stories in our anthologies, as well as numerous novels and children’s books. Let’s get to know her!

In one sentence, sum up your story in Undeath and the Detective.

A Berkeley professor’s obsession is to find tangible evidence that aliens crashed in a space ship near Roswell, New Mexico, and he does—briefly.

What in particular inspired you to write this story?

We visited Roswell and the pertinent museum there and saw the story of Roswell. We also went to the planetarium and saw how many planets there are visible. And we ‘rode’ in outer space. That sparked some research when I came home. What if? Some of the story could actually be true!

What do you most like to write? Is it the same or different from what you like to read?

I love reading mysteries, both adult and children’s. I read a wide variety of books–buy books on subjects or authors that interest me in used bookstores (The Pasadena library store is great!). such as bios, non-fiction. I love reading a book that a friend has recommended and something I would never have picked up. I do a lot of mystery book reviewing. And I do a lot of research when I’m writing a book.

Is this your first detective story? Your first supernatural story?

Not my first detective story, but my first ‘supernatural’ story.

Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, how?

Don’t do anything unusual, but I love the season and have used it often in my writing. It’s such a perfect time of year to set the atmosphere for a mystery story.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

If you’re a writer, you’re writing all the time—even without pen, paper or computer. When I’m not writing physically, there’s the business of writing to take care of. But to answer your questions, I love to travel.

Are there any particular authors or artists who inspire you?

The big three-Marcia Muller, Sara Paretsky and Sue Grafton are wonderful role models.

Are you working on anything new? Tell us about it!

I have a few projects in various stages and switch back and forth. My next print and Kindle book will be a collection of short stories set in different countries, and the title will be Death in…. then a list of the locales Amsterdam, Belgium, London. Some have already been published in ezines and anthologies and are already on Kindle Shorts. The others are written but are in various stages of revision. Then we’ll put up all of my ten-minute plays that have been produced—no title for that yet. The big new project is a book set in 1942 Hollywood featuring LAPD Officer Agnes Graham and a private detective who work on a case involving the crooked unions representing the employees in the studios, titled A Man of Honor. The have solved crimes together before in two short stories, both on Kindle.

Promote your work! What is your favorite thing you’ve written, and where can readers find it?

All of my works are on Amazon and Kindle–so check out my name on Amazon.
Our local bookstore, Book ‘Em, has copies of my works including the latest, Murder and Mayhem at The Huntington Library, which is a collection of mystery short stories set there.